Day 277. Two hours after laundry was delivered. Dinner was ready. When Lili walked in, a little late. She looked tired but tried to smile as she joined them. They sat at the table. The dishes were simple but warm.

"That was a long check-up. You alright?" Victoria asked.

"What did they say?" Alice added softly.

Alice's mom, rubbed Lili's shoulder. "Oh honey, are you okay?"

Lili nodded, setting her tray down carefully. "It's nothing serious. Just a lot of random checks. Turns out I have anxiety. The real kind. Hormones and all."

"That's alright." Alice's mom gave her a squeeze. "You're strong enough to handle it."

Lili gave a soft smile. "I hope so."

Alice's dad chimed in as he reached for a bread roll. "It's good you didn't wait on it. That kind of thing creeps on you. Take it from an old soldier. You let it sit too long, and one day it kicks your legs out from under you."

Just then, a faint alarm sound echoed through the wall. A panic button had been pressed somewhere. The room fell into silence. They didn't see the red lights. But they all knew what it meant.

Another one.

Alice's mother muttered, "Good. It's about damn time."

Alice gave her a look, telling her that was too much. But the mother just went on. "Why are they so slow with this thing? Take more people at once. We don't have much time."

Alice's father spoke calmly. "They can't. Because It's not they. Its just one man." He paused, looking toward Lili. "Or woman. Women can be killers too." Then, he tossed in a dry grin. "I mean, look at the one I married. She's absolutely a killer."

He chuckled, and Alice's mom rolled her eyes, laughing. "Keep talking like that and I will be one."

They leaned toward each other and kissed—soft, long, real.

Alice looked away with discomfort, staring down at her plate. Lili gave a small, polite laugh—the kind kids make when grown-ups start flirting too close.

And just like that, the moment passed.

***

Later that night, at Victoria's room. Thoughts still remained.

Lili.

She was late to dinner today. Moments after she arrived, the next body was found.

But she was at the hospital. She couldn't have done it?

After everything—the way she reacted to her question, the blood on her blouse, the nervous laughter, the vague alibis—it was just too much.

It couldn't not be her.

And yet—

No proof.

Nothing she could pin to the wall and say: this. Only the way Lili made her feel—like there was always something unsaid. Like she was holding her breath around them.

She started pacing around her room, walking in quick, uneven steps, like the motion could shake something loose in her brain. Every turn at the corner, every pause at the edge of her bed, was a silent demand for clarity. But none came.

Then—something caught her eye.

The satellite phone, sitting right there on the bed.

Had it always been there? Was it always like that? Or had she moved it earlier? She couldn't remember.

She picked it up.

Called her friend. Erdmann.

"Where was today's body found?" she asked.

"Why? Do you—"

"Just tell me, Where was it?"

She braced herself for the answer. It had to be near the hospital. Right where Lili was.

"Outskirts." But Erdmann said. "Near the water station. The one we're using now."

Silence pressed in.

She let out a slow breath, and said it—more to herself than to him. "Lili was at the hospital today. She's not your killer."

A pause.

"Or maybe… she's not working alone." he countered.

Click.

She hung up.

support the story on patreon for the big picture to come true.